10 Artillery Brigade was a

South African Defence Force The South African Defence Force (SADF) (Afrikaans: ''Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag'') comprised the armed forces of South Africa from 1957 until 1994. Shortly before the state reconstituted itself as a republic in 1961, the former Union Defence Fo ...

formation designed for mass artillery barrages, mainly for the

7 South African Infantry Division 7 South African Infantry Division was a formation (military), formation of the South African Army, active from the 1960s to 1999. History Origin of 7 Division from existing and new Brigades 7 Division and 17, 18 and 19 Brigades were establishe ...

or 8 South African Armoured Division, as well as an ad hoc formation during Operation Prone, when needed and detached and reattached where required. Smaller components would then be used at the battlegroup level.

History

10 Artillery Brigade was formed in

Potchefstroom Potchefstroom ( ; ), colloquially known as Potch, is an college town, academic city in the North West (South African province), North West Province of South Africa. It hosts the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. Potchefstro ...

in 1983, when 4 Field Regiment and 14 Field Regiment were both incorporated as

4 Artillery Regiment 4 Artillery Regiment is based at Potchefstroom, responsible for the training of soldiers allotted to Field and Medium Artillery. History Origins Under the UDF On 28 May 1945, authority was granted for the formation of 4 Field Artillery as ...

and 14 Field Artillery Regiment. 4 Artillery Regiment was located to the old 14 Field Regiment base where the Brigade was established. It provided the base and training facilities as well as National Servicemen gunner training between each regiment on an annual basis.

Equipment

The Brigade utilized the following equipment: * G5 155mm long range howitzer * G6 155mm long range howitzer * G2 140mm medium range howitzer * Bateleur 127mm multiple rocket launcher * M5 120 mm heavy mortars SADF 10 Artillery Brigade structure in Potchefstroom

SADF 10 Artillery Brigade structure in Potchefstroom

South West Africa and Angola

Tactical headquarters

10 Artillery Brigade Tactical headquarters was an artillery formation created in 1988 to support the ad hoc formation of 10 SA Division which had been formed to counter the Cuban threat in south-western Angola in June 1988. It was composed of: *a tactical headquarters, *14 Field Artillery Regiment comprising: **14 Field Artillery Regiment HQ, **155 mm G5 battery from

62 Mechanised Battalion Group 62 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was a Battlegroup (army), unit of the South African Infantry Corps, South African Army (SADF); although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of a Mechanised Infantry ...

, **a 140 mm G2 battery from

Cape Field Artillery A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment of any length that hangs loosely and connects either at the neck or shoulders. They usually cover the back, shoulders, and arms. They come in a variety of styles and have been used thr ...

, **a 127 mm MRL battery from 32 Battalion, **a 120 mm mortar battery from 4 Artillery Regiment, **a meteorological section from 1 Locating Regiment, **a light workshop troop and **a signals troop *17 Field Regiment comprising: **17 Field Regiment HQ, **a 155 mm G5 Battery from

61 Mechanised Battalion Group 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Infantry Corps; although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of infantry, armour and artillery. History Combat Group Juliet General Constan ...

, **a 140 mm G2 Battery from 17 Field Regiment, **another 140 mm G2 Battery from

Transvaal Horse Artillery Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name ''Transvaal''. * South African Republic (1856–1902; ...

, **a 127 mm MRL battery from 4 Artillery Regiment, **a meteorological section from 2 Locating Regiment, **a light workshop troop and **a signals troop *181 battery from 18 Light Regiment SADF 10 Artillery Brigade Tactical Structure Angola

SADF 10 Artillery Brigade Tactical Structure Angola

Engagements

* Battles fought around

Cuito Cuanavale Cuito Cuanavale, occasionally spelt Kuito Kuanavale or Kwito Kwanavale, is a municipality in Cuando province in Angola. The area around the town was the scene of heavy fighting during various campaigns during the Angolan Civil War and the South ...

Operation Excite/Hilti Operation Excite/Hilti (aka Operation Hilti and Operation Prone)Wilsworth, Clive (2012). ''First in Last Out.'' eBook. Chapter 11. was a set of military operations by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the Angolan Civil War and South A ...

* Operation Prone

Disbandment

10 Artillery Brigade became the basis for the

South African Army Artillery Formation The South African Army Artillery Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army artillery units. It draws much of its history from the South African Artillery, established in 1934 but with roots that reach back to 1921. The formati ...

Notes

References

External links

{{SA Army Units Brigades of South Africa Disbanded military units and formations in Potchefstroom Military units and formations established in 1983 Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War Military units and formations disestablished in 1992 Artillery brigades